NATO's role in terms of combating terrorism within the framework of international cooperation.

iiiABSTRACTTerrorism is a security concern which becomes a threat for each of theindividual states. Terrorism that has so many roots has adapted to the newlytechnological advances and became a transnational phenomenon which threatenseach state within the current international system.The transnational dimension of terrorism which is not a new phenomenonwas explicitly emphasized by all states especially after September 11. Thattransnational nature of the concept comes up with the international cooperationconcerns. The endeavour of Turkey, Britain, Spain and Japan that all tried to combatterrorism with their domestic capabilities for so many years was supported by theUSA, which is aiming to be the leader in combating terrorism. In addition to thenational measures taken in different periods, some international agreements wereconcluded to combat terrorism.International cooperation concerns against terrorism come together with thequestion of how and under what platform these measures can be taken intoconsideration. Within this framework NATO, whose structure is adapting to the newatmosphere in the post-Cold War period bear a new mission for combating terrorism.For this aim NATO is aiming to be an embracing international organization in orderto coordinate the international efforts.Within the above mentioned facts, in this study it is tried to be evaluated thatwhether or not NATO can be an embracing organization for the cooperativemeasures against terrorism.With this respect the study is composed of four chapters.The first chapter of the study aims to draw the conceptual framework of theissue of terrorism. Within this respect, the discussion in terms the definition ofivterrorism, a brief history of terrorism, origins of the terrorism and the criteria for theclassification of terrorism are underlined.In the second chapter, the differentiation between the domestic and theinternational terrorism is mentioned and also within this connection by emphasizingthe differences in the definitions of domestic and the international terror, it is aimedto discuss how terrorism become an international issue.Within the third chapter of the study, it is tried to be given some briefexamples of the national endeavor of Turkey, Britain, Spain, United States and Japanin combating terrorism. By underlining the international agreements, and cooperationmeasures in a historical perspective it is aimed to be proven that an internationalstruggle for combating terrorism is not a new phenomenon.In chapter four, by evaluating the analysis given in previous chapters, the roleof NATO in combating terrorism is tried to be emphasized.In the conclusion section, a general evaluation is tried to be made. It is aimedto be emphasized that, NATO, even after the demise of the very reason of itsfoundation, which is tried to settle the new international system by undergoingserious transformations. Some of these transformations are especially made for beingeffective in context of combating terrorism. The success of these transformations isimportant for the legitimacy of NATO?s very existence in the post-Cold War period.However, for proving this legitimacy, the operability of the resolutions that wereaccepted in, their names are mentioned above summits and maintaining theobjectiveness of the alliance in terms of combating terrorism seems crucial. Acontrary situation may overshadow the sustainability of the alliance together with theinternational cooperation measures for combating terrorism. Within this framework,it is expected that NATO can serve effectiveness, neutrality and decisiveness in thecontext of combating terrorism, through which it will play a role for the institutionalcooperation platform, which is desired by the all the actors which are combatingagainst terrorism.